Key holder



April 28, 1959 GOLD KEY HOLDER Filed Dec. 29, 1955 FIG.5

JNVENTORQ AORQEY United States Patent KEY HOLDER Irving Gold, Scarsdale, N.Y.

Application December 29, 1955, Serial No. 556,187

9 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to a key holder, and more specifically concerns key holders of the multiple key type.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved key holder of compact form and of a structure limited to substantially the head portions of the keys retained thereby, such holder providing improved means for manipulating a selected key in the actual use thereof, as when inserting the same into a lock and rotating the key to open the lock.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved key holder for a plurality of keys, wherein the keys are in aligned, superposed relation when not in use, yet allowing the keys to be swiveled relative to each other to present a selected key in proper position for use.

A further object of this invention is to provide a key holder in the form of a hollow easing limited in size substantially to that necessary to encase the head portions only of the keys retained thereby, such casing having a structure which allows the keys to be swiveled relative to each other and to maintain the keys in separated relation for use, yet presenting a streamlined, ornamental appearance consonant with the mechanical functions thereof.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a key holder of the character described, in which keys may readily be attached to or removed therefrom, together with positive means for preventing accidental detachment of the keys from the holder.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top view of the key holder embodying the invention, with the keys in alignment;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1, showing the keys in displaced relation;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view of the holder with parts in section;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side view thereof, with the keys removed therefrom; and

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. 7

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a multiple key holder embodying the invention. The same comprises a hollow metal casing 11, which may be circular in shape and which is adapted to enclose the head portions only of the keys mounted therein.

The casing 11 comprises a pair of opposed end walls 12, 13 which are interconnected by a side wall 14. The side wall 14 is formed with a circumferentially extending, rectangular shaped slot 15 located adjacent end wall 12. The slot 15 may have an angular extent of 90 as shown, or other suitable circumferential dimension, as defined by edges 16, 17 at the opposite ends thereof. The width of slot 15 between edges 18, 19 is substantially equal to the thickness of a key 20, so as to readily admit the head 21 thereof, to the interior of casing 11.

The wall 14 is further formed with a slot portion 22 communicating with slot 15 at one end thereof, said 2,883,851 Patented Apr. 28, 1959 slot portion being of a circumferential extent substantially equal to the width of the shank portion 23 of the key 20, being defined by edge 17 and shoulder 24, said slot portion extending to end wall 13.

End wall 13 is provided with an internally threaded stud 25 upstanding from a central portion thereof within casing 11, the stud being adapted to project through the usual opening 26 in the head of key 20. End wall 12 is formed with an opening 27 aligned with stud 25 to receive a screw 28 which may be threaded into the stud. The stud 25 has a height substantially equal to the thickness of key 20. A ring 29 may be integrally attached to casing wall 14 on the exterior thereof.

Key 20 and an additional key 30 may be mounted in holder 10 by first slipping the head 21 of key 20 through slot 15 to bring the opening 26 in the head into registry with stud 25 and swiveling the key until the shank portion 23 thereof drops into slot portion 22, abutting edge 17 and shoulder 24. Thus, the stud 25 will be disposed in opening 26 of the key head and the key 20 will be retained against movement relative to the holder by slot portion 22.

Key 30 may now have its head 31 passed into slot 15, bringing opening 32 thereof in registry with wall opening 27, to allow screw 28 to pass through the registering openings and to be threaded into stud 25. The keys 20, 30 may be in aligned relation as shown in Fig. 1, when not in use. If one or both keys are to be used, key 30 is swiveled through movement of its shank portion 33 through slot 15 to various positions angularly related to key 20 and limited by slot edge 16, as indicated in Fig. 2, thus separating the keys for independent use.

With the casing 11 substantially limited to the heads of the keys retained therein, such casing provides a convenient and compact means for holding the keys in the operative position thereof, yet permitting the keys to be manipulated between their inoperative and operative positions.

It is understood that the casing 11 may take other forms while retaining the slotted arrangement and internal stud for mounting the keys therein.

As various changes might be made in the embodiment of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit thereof, it is understood that all matter herein shown or described shall be deemed illustrative and not by way of limitation, except as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus disclosed my invention, I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent:

1. A key holder comprising a hollow casing for receiving the head portions of a plurality of keys and having opposed end walls and a circular side wall, said side wall being formed with a circumferentially extending slot having at one end thereof a portion of increased width, a stud upstanding from a central portion of one of said end walls and extending toward the other end wall, a member removably mounted on the other of said end walls for engagement with said stud, said stud and member forming pivot means for the head portions of said keys, the slot portion of increased width receiving the shank of one of said keys and fixedly positioning the same, said slot receiving the shank of another key for swiveled movement through the circumferential extent of said slot.

2. A key holder comprising a hollow casing having opposed end walls interconnected by a circular side wall, said side wall being formed with a circumferentially extending slot adjacent one of said end walls and a slot portion of a circumferential extent much less than that of said slot, said slot portion communicating with said slot and being adjacent the other of said end walls, and means extending between central portions of said end walls for pivotally mounting the head portions of a plurality of keys, said slot portion passing the shank portion of one of said keys and retaining said one key against pivotal movement, said slot passing the shank portion of another of said keys and providing for swiveled movement thereof.

3. A key holder comprising a hollow casing having opposed circular end walls and a circular side wall interconnecting said end walls, said side wall being formed with an extended circumferential slot and a slot portion of limited circumferential extent depending from one end of said slot and communicating therewith, a threaded stud upstanding from one of said end walls and extending toward the other of said end walls, a screw received in the other of said end walls and threaded into said stud, said slot receiving the head portion of a plurality of keys for pivotal mounting thereof on said stud and screw, said slot portion receiving the shank portion of one of said keys for retaining the same against pivoted movement, said slot being operative to locate another key in alignment with said one key while allowing said other key to be swiveled through the circumferential extent of said slot to positions angularly displaced relative to said one key.

4. A key holder comprising a hollow casing having opposed end walls, and circular side wall interconnecting said end walls, said side wall being formed with a circumferential slot having a circumferential extent substantially equal to a multiple of the width of a key shank and a slot portion extending from said slot and having a circumferential extent substantially equal to the width of a key shank, a stud fixed to a central portion of one end wall and extending toward the other end wall for locating the head of one key within said casing with the shank thereof disposed in said slot portion, and means mounted on the other end wall for locating the head of another key within said casing with the shank thereof disposed in said slot for swiveled movement within said slot.

5. A key holder comprising a hollow casing having opposed end walls having a spacing therebetween equal to the thickness of a pair of superposed contacting keys and a side wall interconnecting said end walls, said side wall being formed with an elongated slot of uniform width equal to the thickness of a single key shank extending parallel to said end walls and a slot portion having a length substantially equal to the width of a key shank communicating with said slot along one side thereof, a stud upstanding from one end wall and extending toward the other end wall for locating the head portion of a key within said casing with the shank of said key projecting through said slot portion and fixed therein against pivotal movement, and means extending from said second mentioned end wall toward said first mentioned end wall for locating the head portion of a second key within said casing with the shank portion of said second key projecting through said elongated slot, said second key being pivotable about said means within the extent of said elongated slot.

6. A key holder as in claim 5 wherein said st'ud includes a hollow threaded portion, said second mentioned wall is formed with an opening aligned with said stud, and said means comprises a screw passing through the opening in said second mentioned wall and received in the threaded portion of said stud.

7. A key holder comprising a hollow casing enclosing the head portions only of a plurality of superposed keys, the interior of said casing having a transverse dimension to keep said key head portions in contact with each other, said casing having a side wall formed with a slot having a uniform width equal to the thickness of a key shank and through which the shank portion of one key may project, means within said casing for pivotally mounting the head portions of said keys, said side wall being formed with a second slot communicating with said first mentioned slot and through which the shank portion of a second key may project, said second slot having a length substantially equal to the width of the key shank therein whereby to fix the position of said second key, said first slot being of a length equal to a multiple of the width of the key shank therein whereby to allow swivel movement of said one key relative to said second key.

8. A key holder comprising a fiat hollow casing for enclosing the head portions only of a plurality of superposed keys with a spacing between opposed wall portions of said casing for keeping said key head portions in contact with each other, said casing having opposed end walls and a side wall interconnecting said end walls, said side wall being formed with a first slot extending parallel to said end walls and of a length substantially equal to the width of a key shank, said side wall being further formed with a second slot communicating with said first slot and extending parallel to said end walls, said second slot being of uniform width equal to the thickness of a single key shank and having a length greater than the length of said first slot, means within said casing for removably mounting the head portions of said superposed keys, one of said keys having the shank thereof projecting through said first slot and retained therein against lateral movement, another'of said keys having the shank thereof projecting through said second slot and laterally movable therein whereby said last mentioned key may be moved to a position wherein the shank thereof is disposed at an angle to the shank of the first mentioned key.

9. A key holder as in claim 8 wherein one end of the first slot is coextensive with one end of the second slot whereby said last mentioned key may be moved to a position wherein the shank thereof overlies the shank of the first mentioned key.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,914,318 Yankovitch June 13, 1933 2,006,286 Waller June 25, 1935 2,245,381 Biggs June 10, 1941 2,746,282 Moberg May 22, 1956 

